While the GOP primary field for the state’s lone US House seat is still wide open, former State Sen. Ryan Zinke (R-Whitefish) is proving that he can marshal the resources to combat the money being gathered by the camp affiliated with former US Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT).
Baucus is now out of office, and quietly serving as US ambassador to China. The early theory for the US House race in Montana was that Democrat John Lewis (D-MT) would have to battle the fact that he was a career staffer to Baucus, but that he may have the money of the Baucus machine to fuel a race and overcome the negative association with Baucus and Obamacare. However, according to campaign finance reports, Lewis isn’t even leading in fundraising. And the broader question remains- does anyone, outside of insider political operatives, even know who John Lewis is?
According to the AP, the Lewis campaign touted raising $300,000. Zinke is reporting to have raised over $460,000 for the first quarter.
p.s.: Other candidates can shoot me their fundraising numbers if they would like to add to this post.
Meanwhile, Republican US House candidate Matt Rosendale (R-Glendive) hit the airwaves with a new tv ad. Click below to watch:
FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM ZINKE CAMPAIGN
Ryan Zinke reports record-breaking fundraising
“I’m honored by the support I’ve received from so many Montanans,” said Zinke. “Since I launched my campaign in October, I’ve met with tens of thousands of supporters across the state. Hard-working Montanans are hungry for leadership, someone who will stand-up to this Administration’s frivolous spending, restore trust in government, and put our economy back on track. It’s clear from their support of my campaign that Montanans want to send the right conservative to Washington.
Combined with contribution totals from the fourth quarter of 2013, the Zinke for Congress campaign has raised a total of over $908,000, with no personal loans from the candidate. This amount reflects the most raised by any open-seat at-large U.S. House candidate in Montana in the first five months of a campaign.
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